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Written By: Ms. Romessa Ahmed, a Participant of ICSF-UoS Fellowship Program 2025-26 at University of Sargodha<\/p>\n
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Chinese President Xi held office in 2013 with a strategic vision of transforming the world we live in. In the same year, he announced his watershed project known as One Belt One Road (OBOR) also known as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the purpose of reviving the old Silk Road dating back to 2 BCE, connecting China with South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Under BRI, the China\u2013Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a landmark project connecting China with Pakistan by building infrastructural projects throughout the country. This $62 bn project is expected to alter the course of not just China and Pakistan but also the entire region, including the fate of landlocked Central Asian Republics (CARs). These CAR states are rich in natural resources, but due to their geographical constraints, they are unable to fully exploit the world market, thus facing economic constraints and low GDP growth despite possessing enormous potential.<\/p>\n
CPEC offers CARS a way out. Promising these states to reach warm waters through Pakistan. It also offers Pakistan to exit the energy shortage quagmire, as resource-rich central Asian republics are a viable alternative available for Pakistan. So, CPEC is a strategic gateway with the potential of reshaping regional geopolitical, economic, and strategic dynamics. Pakistan’s geographical location places it at a critical juncture of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia, bridging one of the world\u2019s most important yet volatile regions. Central Asian Republics consider CPEC’s Gwadar port as \u201cCrown Jewels\u201d and have an eye on utilizing it for future trade and connectivity with the world. Gwadar is one of the deepest ports of the world and is of enormous importance for Pakistan as well as China and CARS. Furthermore, it offers China an escape from the \u201cMalacca dilemma\u201d, in an increasingly disturbing world due to the ongoing trade war with the USA.<\/p>\n
Central Asian Republics (CARS) are enthusiastic about joining CPEC since its formal inception in 2015 during Chinese President Xi’s visit to Pakistan. Since then, there have been repeated exchanges of visits between Pakistan and representatives of the Central Asian Republics. Unfortunately, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Central Asia is significantly low. However, both sides are ready to increase mutual trade. So, in this context, a key to growing commerce between Pakistan and Central Asia lies in the development of efficient land and railway connections to facilitate freight volume on both sides. Recently, Uzbek Railways and the International Road Transport Chamber of Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement to facilitate mutual trade via Pakistan-China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan and Pakistan-China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan land routes. Furthermore, in December 2025, the President of Kyrgyzstan visited Pakistan and signed multiple MOUs and agreements relating to energy, infrastructure building and stressed boosting mutual trade through effective use of the Gwadar port.<\/p>\n
Moreover, Gwadar port is a deep-sea port which contains a natural depth of 18\u201320 meters located near strait of Hormuz _ which accounts for almost 20 percent of global oil supply. This strategic location of Gwadar enhances its importance under CPEC for countries willing to exploit it for trade and communication links with other economies of the world.<\/p>\n
Gwadar port reduces the transport distance of Central Asian states by almost 600-1000 km compared to others, including via Russia and Iran. This could potentially lead to a reduced transit time by almost 10-15 days and also lower freight costs by 20-30 percent. This would be highly beneficial for these landlocked, yet wealthy, states of Central Asia to connect with the world market instantly.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Gwadar port is also seen as a regional transit hub of energy, which would support gas and oil pipelines, including logistics of other renewable energy plants ready to be shipped on demand. This way, Gwadar could potentially link energy supplies of these states with the world more effectively, strengthening Pakistan’s role in Eurasian trade and connectivity. This would also help realize the goal of BRI to establish integrated land-sea corridors to facilitate regional trade and cooperation to build trust and harmony, diffusing existing grievances among states through mutual development.<\/p>\n
Pakistan is an energy-dependent state, facing persistent energy shortfalls over a period of time. Yet Central Asia holds over 30 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as well as 9 percent of global natural gas reserves, according to one estimate. So, connectivity with the Central Asian states through CPEC would be extremely beneficial for Pakistan to counter its constant energy problems.<\/p>\n
Moreover, already planned projects with Central Asian states are enormously beneficial, such as the TAPI gas pipeline, which is expected to transport almost 33 billion cubic meters of gas yearly, to the member states, whereas electricity projects, including CASA-1000 is supposed to transmit 1300 MW of hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan. Also this growing partnership offers an opportunity to rescue this planet from the effects of global warming and climate change, the most glaring threat facing region.<\/p>\n
However, key infrastructure development projects are underway, including 3000 km of roads, highway construction, and railway projects to connect Gwadar with northern Pakistan, China, and Central Asia. These connectivity initiatives would ease the cost of trade and could also strengthen other commercial and diplomatic relations among regional states.<\/p>\n
Moreover, CPEC aims to enhance continental trade networks to connect with the broader Eurasian region. It also offers alternatives to the existing trade routes by offering the addition of the North-South corridor. These corridors not only connect Pakistan with the Xinjiang region of China but also with the Central Asian region, Russia, and then Europe.<\/p>\n
CPEC, aligned with the Belt and Road initiative\u2019s other corridors, such as China- Central Asia \u2013 West Asia Economic Corridor and CAREC corridors 5 and 6, would expectably reduce trade costs by almost 15- 25 percent. Moreover, building digital infrastructure under CPEC and other regional projects would reduce transit delays, which currently account for almost 40 percent of total transit time in the Eurasian region. This initiative would improve regional supply chains, placing Pakistan at the center of the Eurasian economy.<\/p>\n
CPEC is also vital for Pakistan’s economy. It would enhance Pakistan’s trade with the Central Asian state through improved connectivity, attracting investments in textiles, agriculture, and the service industry. It also strengthens Pakistan’s position geopolitically by aligning with China and energy-rich Central Asian Republics. Whereas, Central Asian states in reciprocity gain more strategic autonomy by jettisoning dependency on the existing states that dominate traditional trade routes.<\/p>\n
Still, CPEC faces several constraints that threaten to pose significant challenges in its way forward. The most prominent precedent, includes political instability, corruption, financing problems, delays, terrorism, and a lack of efficient infrastructure. However, despite possessing huge challenges, substantial opportunities remain apparent. Both Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics could expand their partnership under CPEC in areas of renewable energy, digital infrastructure building, and logistic transport, making the CPEC model of sustainable development and a regional cooperation framework.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, CPEC is a transformative framework that could bridge not just distances but also expand mutual trade by facilitating inflows of goods crucial for world markets. This project makes Pakistan the backbone of regional connectivity and enhances the prospects of its economic development. For Central Asia it brings an opportunity to gain strategic autonomy by diversifying trade routes as well as quick and less costly access to Indian Ocean to connect with the world market. Furthermore, it also opens a new avenue of future cooperation, facilitating green transition, initiation of renewable energy projects, joint investment in digital infrastructure buildup as well as opportunity to reshape regional political and economic dynamics, making it one of the most technologically advanced and economically developed regions of the world. If above-mentioned constraints are resolved, CPEC would transform not just South Asia but it would also alter the dynamics of greater Eurasian region, easing the realization of Chinese vision of cherish a community with a shared future for mankind.<\/p>\n
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